Chapter 139

Chapter 139: New Products

On July 12, 1868, the Berlin Power Company unveiled its latest research results in an experiment that had garnered significant attention due to extensive newspaper coverage.

The experiment took place in Berlin and attracted various dignitaries and a curious crowd eager to witness this groundbreaking event. The Berlin Electricity Company had built up anticipation through newspaper advertisements, claiming that this invention rivaled the electric light itself.

Under a sunny sky, the Berlin Power Company had set up a temporary site in the city center, reserving seats for Berlin's elites and numerous newspaper reporters in advance.

At ten o'clock in the morning, the crowd had gathered, and the staff unveiled the experimental equipment, revealing two semi-open pavilions placed 100 meters apart.

The host, equipped with a loudspeaker, began by introducing the impressive history of the Berlin Power Company and its business scope. He emphasized that this experiment marked Germany's pioneering role in technological advancements.

However, the audience grew impatient with the lengthy introduction, so the host swiftly transitioned to the experimental activity.

He then asked the audience to guess the function of the peculiar-looking equipment, and someone in the crowd remarked that it didn't seem related to electricity and inquired about its purpose.

The host finally disclosed that this invention was called a "telephone" and invited the audience to deduce its function from the name.

One person shouted from the crowd, "Telefon, distant voice?"

The host and the crowd bantered, acknowledging that the term had ancient Greek origins but were not deterred by the lack of historical accuracy.

Explaining further, the host clarified that the telephone functioned similarly to the telegraph but had the added capability of transmitting human voices over long distances. The audience was intrigued but remained skeptical.

The host then invited Baron Akela from Saxony to test the telephone. Baron Akela hesitated initially but agreed to participate.

The staff set up the telephone booth for Baron Akela, explaining how the earpiece and microphone worked. They connected the phone to the line, and Baron Akela, after some thought, recited a series of numbers.

In a distant telephone booth, the staff recorded the numbers spoken by Baron Akela and displayed them on a board for all to see. Baron Akela confirmed that those were his words.

Then, Baron Akela expressed disbelief and challenged the staff to transmit those numbers back to him through the telephone.

Following the staff's instructions, Baron Akela held the receiver to his ear as they transmitted his own message to him. Astonished, Baron Akela was convinced of the telephone's capabilities.

This demonstration led to many in the audience wanting to try the new invention for themselves. The host welcomed aristocrats and reporters to step forward and experience the telephone.

The high-ranking officials and dignitaries present represented the Berlin Electric Power Company's future clientele, while reporters played a crucial role in publicizing the telephone's emergence.

These influential figures, along with the Prussian and Austrian courts, had already begun to adopt this technology. William I recognized the strategic value of the telephone and planned to introduce it to the Prussian army.

Compared to the telegraph, which required professional operators, the telephone was user-friendly and allowed generals to convey orders directly.

The true inventor of the telephone, Antonio Meucci, had previously introduced his invention as a "long-distance microphone" but lacked the funds to patent it. This innovation had been publicly announced in Italian newspapers in the United States, but it had gone largely unnoticed. Consequently, he couldn't find a company willing to purchase his patent.

Ernst, who knew about Meucci from his previous life, sent representatives to the United States to locate him. They promptly found Meucci, and the Hechingen Consortium purchased the telephone patent from him.

In contrast to Meucci's refusal to work with the Berlin Electricity Company, the firm's significant influence within Europe allowed it to attract widespread attention for its product launch.

However, Meucci chose to return to Italy with his wife after securing the payment for his patent. He had endured years of hardship while developing the telephone, and he decided to leave inventing behind and live a peaceful life in the countryside.